Apparatus for assisting the hearing.



No. 683,I92. Patented Sept. 24, l90l.

A. r. WATCH. APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING THE HEARING.

(Applicltion fllod lflb. 17 1899.)

(No Model.)

A rTo/msrf adapted for use with the right ear.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED F. \VAIGH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING THE HEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,192, datedSeptember 24, 1901; Application filed February 17, 1899. Serial No.705,809. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED F. WATCH, residing at Philadelphia,countyofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Apparatus for Assisting the Hearing, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in devices for causing thesound volume to be increased to assist those Whose hearing is impairedand whereby the device may be readily handled and adjusted, all of whichwill be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device With the stringdrawn to curve the device to fit the left ear. Figs. 2 and 8 are frontand end views of the device shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 areperspective views of modified forms.

A is a sheet of celluloid or other resilient material, which has thecurved side a.

B is a string which passes through the orifice b in the stick or handleI), up one side of sheet A, through the orifice b in the corner I) ofsheet A, down the other side of sheet A, and through orifice b in thestick. At each end of the string is a knot (Z. By pulling either end ofthe string until the knot on the other end strikes the walls of theorifice b or b the sheet A will be curved, the direction of whichcurvature is dependent upon which end of the string is acted on. The.surface contour of each side of sheet A is concaved, so that when it iscurved it assumes a parabolic curve. If the lower end of the string isoperated, the sheet is If the upper end of the string is operated, it isadapted for use with the left ear, the curved edge a being adapted to beplaced close to the head and conforming thereto. In Fig. 1 I have shownthis construction applied to the ear. Instead of the forms shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 3 the sheet A may be maintained in its curved positionby means of the frame or guard E, Fig. 4, which may be provided with ahandle F or a pin F, Fig. 5. In the latter construction the pin could besecured in the Finally, in Fig. 6 I have hair of the user.

this augments the volume of sound which is conveyed to the inner ear andmodified by the outer ear.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire toprotect by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for increasing the volume of sound to the human ear, incombination a sheet of resilient material, a holder connected to saidsheet, there being orifices in opposite sides of said holder, a stringpassing through one of said orifices, extending up along one side ofsaid sheet to and through an orifice in the corner, then down theopposite side of said sheet through the opposite orifice in the holder,said string being provided with knots.

2. In a device for increasing the volume of sound to the human ear, incombination a sheet of resilient material, a holder connected to saidsheet, there being orifices in opposite sides of said holder, a stringpassing through one of said orifices, extending up along one side ofsaid sheet to and through an orifice in the corner, then down theopposite side of said sheet through the opposite orifice in the holder,said string being provided with knots, the surface of said sheet beingparabolic.

3. In a device for increasing the volume of sound to the human ear, incombination a sheet of resilient material, a holder connected to saidsheet, there being orifices in opposite sides of said holder, a stringpassing through one of said orifices, extending up along one side ofsaid sheet to and through an orifice in the corner, then down theopposite side of said sheet through the opposite orifice in the holder,said string being provided with knots, and one edge of said sheet beingcurved to conform to the head behind the ear.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

ALFRED F. WATCH.

Witnesses:

Famous ELLIs, MABEL HAMILTON.

